hendbickx



A. HENDRICKX.

Gas Retort Cover. No. 21,001. Patented my 27, 1858.

El [I A. HENDRIGKX, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VALVE 01'! GAS APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,001, dated July 27, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. HENDRICKX, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Retort Covers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section of a gas retort with my improved safety gas escape cover applied to it. Fig. 2, is a vertical transverse section of the same. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the improved safety gas escape cover detached from the retort.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to avoid the liability of gas retorts exploding from an undue pressure of the gas, caused by choking up of the pipe which conducts the gas from the retort to the receiver.

The nature of my invention consists in the application to the main pipe of gas retorts, of a water valve with a loose cover which is perforated around its sides or circumference with a series of small holes and constructed so as to fit into and rest upon the bottom of said water chamber or channel and have its perforations closed by the water in the same and allow communication between the retort and the receiver. Vith this arrangement the retort cover can be packed by the water in the chamber or channel around its upper edge, sufficiently tight to prevent the escape of the gas when the pressure of the same is at the proper and safe degree, but when the pressure of the gas in the retort becomes too great and dangerous, instead of an explosion occurring the gas will, by means of the perforations in the periphery of the box or cylindrical cover exert its pressure upon the water in the channel or chamber at the upper edge of the retort and displace and spill said water over the upper edge of the chamber or channel until its level falls below the safety perforations in the periphery of the cover, when the gas will have a free escape and cease to act with a dangerous pressure upon the retort. As soon as the pressure falls to the proper degree the chamber or channel is again supplied with water until the perforations of the cover are closed up and the escape of gas through the same stopped.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents a retort of ordinary construction with the exception of being furnished with a chamber or channel B, around its upper edge as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This chamber or channel serves to receive water or'other suitable fluid packing. The retort is only set into the furnace wall as far as the point indicated by the dotted line 1, 3 in order that the portion beyond or in front of said line shall not be heated to an extent which will cause the evaporation of the water in the chamber.

C, is the cover of the retort, it is of box or cylindrical form with a vertical passage D, in its top for the gas to pass from the retort into the tar box or condenser. The passage D, connects with a flexible or stiff tube which combines the tar box or the condenser with the retort. It is preferable to have a flexible tube as the top can then be lifted up or off whenever it is necessary, without unscrewing or detaching the pipe, and in case of a choking up of the safety gas escape passages 64, a, the cover can rise with the pressure of gas and thus prevent an explosion. The cover C, is constructed of such a size that its rim, when down in the chamber or channel B, just extends to the center of the bottom of the channel and thus leaves a space 6, on its inside and outside for water to rest in and gas to flow through; and also a space between the top of the retort and the underside of the cover for the gas to flow from the retort to the space Z), and safety escape passages a, a, as illust-rated by the arrows.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In the application of water valves to the main pipe of gas retorts, the use of a loose perforated cover C, a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

AUGUST HEN DRI'GKX.

Witnesses G. Yonxn ATLEE, W. A'rLEE. 

